Trump Saw Defeat Of Obamacare Repeal Bill Coming

The Senate Finance Committee was interrupted by protesters today as lawmakers considered the latest GOP effort to repeal and replace Obamacare, the Graham-Cassidy draft that is likely dead as a fourth GOP senator announced opposition to the bill. Graham and Cassidy are still working at this late hour to save it.

Paul said he's against block-granting Medicaid funds, saying that it would "immortalize" spending on the program. Susan Collins of ME and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska have concerns. As of Monday, the Republican version seemed very much in jeopardy.

"I don't know that we've fundamentally changed anything other than we're re-shuffling who gets the money and that's going to make some people happy and embitter other people", Paul said. Because of that, so many people in the health care industry and those dependent on Medicaid are watching closely what's happening in Washington.

The hearing was suspended while demonstrators - some in wheelchairs - were escorted from the hearing room. Among them were what she called the "sweeping changes and cuts" in the Medicaid program.

While the full effects of the Graham-Cassidy bill still are being analyzed, one clear result would be its impact on Coloradans covered by the Medicaid expansion - more than 400,000 would stand to lose coverage under that umbrella.

President Donald Trump amped up the pressure Sunday on reluctant Republican senators, calling Alaska, Arizona, Maine and Kentucky "big winners" under the GOP plan. Rand Paul (R-KY), Sen. Susan Collins said she would vote against the bill, making her the third Republican to publicly come out against it. Lindsey Graham and Bill Cassidy revised the bill to provide more funding for states that are low in population but have a high spend on healthcare. "I went to rally after rally".

However, after campaigning for year to replace Obamacare, the Republican Party has failed to unite behind previous initiatives like the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA), despite having a 52-48 majority over Democrats in the 100-member Senate.

The CBO score's main goal is to ensure that the legislation meets its saving targets required under reconciliation, the process that allows Senate Republicans to pass the health care bill with 51 votes. Vice President Mike Pence can break a tie if necessary.